Even though their “big one” has yet to begin, Caesars Entertainment and World Series of Poker officials have announced the schedule of events for their upcoming WSOP Asia/Pacific later this year. As is becoming more common in the tournament poker world, the schedule will conflict with another popular international tournament that may dilute both fields.
Beginning on October 2, the WSOP APAC will take place once again on the grounds of the Crown Melbourne casino in Australia and will come to a close on October 18 with its Championship Event. Featuring a ten-event schedule (double that of 2013), the tournament will offer players the final opportunities to win a coveted WSOP bracelet for 2014 (not counting the WSOP Championship Event’s “November Nine). It will also be the final chance for players to earn points that will count towards the WSOP Player of the Year race.
“Bigger and better is the best way to describe the 2014 WSOP Asia-Pacific,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. “New events at modest price points like the Dealers Choice and Terminator No-Limit Hold’em, plus an expansion of overall events and a move to springtime in Melbourne is designed to encourage the North American and European contingent to make this a can’t miss event. Plus, we have secured the most comprehensive live television coverage in both the U.S. and Australia for both the Main Event and High Roller.”
The popular $1100 (Australian) “Accumulator” event will kick off the proceedings on October 2. There are three starting days for the tournament and players have the option of playing all three Day Ones of the tournament. In a change from usual tournaments (only a player’s largest stack is eligible to move on to Day Two), the “Accumulator” allows players to combine their stacks if they make it through one, two or all three days.
Another unique event will be the $1650 “Terminator” tournament, set to start on October 6. Event #4 on the schedule, each player who is entered in the tournament will have a $500 bounty on their head. When a player is knocked out, the “terminator” takes their bounty chip and keeps them regardless of where they end up in the tournament. At the conclusion of the event, players who have the “terminator” chip can cash them in (the bounty money comes from the prize pool) and players do not need to cash in the tournament to be eligible to cash their chips in.
The final wrinkle put in the 2014 WSOP APAC schedule is a “Dealer’s Choice” game. When a player is on the button, they will have the opportunity to select from one of eight disciplines of poker that will be played. The $1650 Event #6 will be a three-day tournament and begins on October 8.
Pot Limit Omaha, a Six-Handed NLHE tournament, a Mixed Game event and the concluding $10,000 Championship Event round out the entirety of the 2014 WSOP APAC schedule, with the Championship Event and the $25,000 Super High Roller tournament (also a bracelet event) being taped for replay internationally.
There is one problem that has been noted by several of the top tournament poker players from around the world. This year’s WSOP APAC is scheduled to coincide with another tremendously popular poker tournament. The European Poker Tour’s traditional stop in London, the United Kingdom is set to hold their festival from October 8-18. This will mean that many international pros will have to make a decision as to which event to take part in, which could result in a dilution of both fields as those critical options are decided.
One of the more vocal players about the scheduling conflict is 2013 WSOP Player of the Year Daniel Negreanu. “More bad news on poker scheduling,” he commented over Twitter. “EPT London just announced they will overlap WSOP APAC in October. What a shame, I’ll be Down Under. It saddens me to see the players have to choose between two great events.” As can be seen, the decision between two outstanding tournaments will be a tough one for the players to make.
The official schedule for the WSOP APAC, as well as all pertinent information, can be found on the WSOP APAC dedicated site. It should be another popular event as the battle for poker’s bragging rights heads to Australia this fall.
